Electric switch



y 13, 1952 'r. FlNlZlE 2,596,893

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Oct. 28, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Patented May 13,1952 UNITED STAT retrap-nee Tomun Finizie, Bridgeport, Conm, assignor toEdmond .l. Finizie, Bridgeport. Conn.

Application October 28, 1948, Serial No. 56,929

- Another object isto provide a simple and in expensive 'structurewhich-can be easily assem bled -and disassembled.

Anothervobjectis to provide a switch in which thehu'mber of screwsorlike fastening elements in the assembly is reduced to a minimum; T

Another ob'ject'is to provide a switch in which the snap action is ofincreased effectiveness.

in the accompanying drawings: I 3

'Fig. '1 is a top plan view'of a switch embodying-the inventiomshowingthe same in the off position; v a I.

Fig; 2 is a front elevation of the switch shown inFig.'1; "Fig. 3.is asection on line .3--3' of Figj l', on a Figfiiis'a section on line 44 ofFig 3, on a smallerscale; t t i Fig5 isa section online 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-45 of Fig. 3;"

' Fig. 7 is a. detail leaff I l igyiiis a section on line 8-801"! Fig.7'; Fig.-8A is a detail on a larger scale of a portion elevation of theswinging of the leaf;

@Fig. 9 is-a long udmar section of '2. switch or modified form, showingit in the-onposition; Fig lois a view similarto'Fig. 9," showing-theoflfd position, a' portion of r the structure being shown in elevationand a portion of the 'actuating member beingbroken away Figi l'l' is adetail perspective viewof the leaf member employed'in this..'form; '1i'lifigilziis a section '.on: line .I 2-.-l 2 .of Fig. 11;

ingit in the'positionzof Fig. 9, certain partsbeing broken away;

Fig. 13A is a sectionarview, paruy meievation,1. sho,wing a furthermodified form; and;

. ;Fig.11,4;is'a section on'line, -14 of Fig-13:

tion-block being cut. away; intermediate of its ends to provideoperating spacefl'fon a leai-pivto electric switches, and

. 15 Claims (01. 200-967) otedatits lower end to the metallic part of 7frame. and-adaptedtof swing in a vertical plane gr 13.is1a top plan viewof theswitch; show- I,

lengthwise of the frametoward and away iromcontact. mem'bers fixedjn-thecut-away portion of the i n sulat i on gblockrg The upper part; of themetallic portionof theframeis cut away to provide an apertureincommunication with the cutaway part of theblock. Located at the lowerpart-jofthe frame; is an-actuatingelement havingaswinging motion toactuate-the leaf through a coil lspring, ,the'upper end of the springhav ing a hook hooking into anaperture in the leaf, and the lower end ofthe spring being suitably conneccedtothe t tin l m is,actuatinfgelement; in theformgunder discussion is formed as a plate,suspendedby the leaf-actuating spring, the spring being under tensionand the actuating ;element being held in position by knife-edge pivotingspacing members interposed between itand-the upper part of the metallicportionofthe frame. In this particular case, actuation 'of,t,heleaf-actuating element is effectedbyextending one of the last-namedmembersupwardly through the frame so that it is accessible gformanualmanipulation. The fixed contactniembers located in the cut-awaypor tionoi the: insu a n. block, as ab v t on are carried by theinnerends of conductor strips extending lengthwise along thetop of the frame,and proyided; adjacent one'end of the frame with suitable terminals forleading-in wires.

In the drawings the frame as a, whole isindicated at the insulationblockportion being indicatedat 2| and the'metallicportion at- 22.Theswinging contact leaf is generally indicated at 23, the cut-awayportion of the insulation block at,24,- the cut-{away portion of themetallic portion;22,of-the frame at 25, the helical leaf.- actuatingspring at 26, the hooked upper end portion; ofthis spring at 21, .thelower actuating plate at 28,; and=;the knife-edge spacing membersat 29.and 30,: respectively. The member 30 iswprovidedwith the upwardextension 3 I x for manual manipulating purposes, .said'. extensionoperating ina cut-away portion 32 of the frame. One :0f the .fixedcontacts cooperatingwith the swinging leaf isv indicated at 33,. the.same.;being attached to a conductor strip 34, and thesco'nductor.strip- 34 being equipped with at'erminal .screw 35. vTheother fixedcontact136 is-similar,

and is provided. with a conductor strip '3'! and: a

terminalscrewflfl; j 1" v: The; cut-away: portion 24 extendstransversely ;of the-insulation. block, intermediate of the; ends of;the latter, and in thisparticular casethe fixed within cut-away portionsat the right-hand end:

of the block, and the turned-clown portions provided with threadedsockets to receive the screws and 38.

The metallic or conductive portion 22 of the.

frame is in the form of an inverted U, the connecting portion of whichis uppermost andsecured to the insulation block by'means-such asthscrews 39. a

The contact leaf 23 has a metallic body 40. This is a rectangular memberextending along the cut-away portion 24': having at the lower middlepart ahole or aperturellfi in which the hook 21 "of spring 26 isengaged. .At the upper middle part the metallic member 40 B has:

extended through it transversely a rivet 4 l whichholds in place ametallic contact. plate 42: adapted to engage-the fixed'contacts 33 and36 The contact plate 42 is insulated fromcth'e rivet 4! byinsulation-which includes in this instance strip- 43, a-washe'r: 44, anda strip 452 Strip 43 is between- 40 and 42,- Washer 44 surrounds therivet 4i, and-strip 45 extends along that face of the swinging leafwhich"-isrearwardlyv disposed with referenceto the contact plate 42;Contact plate 42 being insulated from the body of the contact leaf,is-adapted to act as-a bridge between the fixed contact members.

The-aperture 41 in thecontact leaf. i's'shown as a'small'roundape'rtureu The hoolr= 0f the spring is 'formed on an arcandextends through this aperture, and, the spring being under tension, the'hook'portion is strongly held against the lowermarginofthe' aperture 41This lower margin has the special form:-shown more parmately equal tothe external diameter of the spring coil, said body portion beingreceived in a round hole 53 in plate 28. Immediately below the plate 28the sleeve is enlarged to provide a flanged head 54 in which the rabbet52 is formed, the flanged head engaging the lower surface of plate 28.

The spring 23 being under tension when the switch'is completelyassembled, ,the swinging leaf 23" is strongly held in its pivot notchesor recesses, and the actuating plate, through the action of the flangedsleeve 49, held in an upper position -in which it can be swung while inengagement with the spacing and pivoting elements -29 and 305- Both ofthese elements have lower knife-edge portions 29 and 30, respectively,en-

gagedy-innotches or recesses of the actuating tions'29" and 30",respectively, engaging notches ticularlyin Fig- 8A, the same-beingbeveled; as 7 indicated at 46; to provide a cross section inthe shapeofan invertedV, the apex ofwhichis indicated at 4-1, saidapexprovidihg'a line contact with the hook'of; the spring-for apurpose-hereinafter mentioned The leaf 23 has a knife-edge mounting atits lower part, which'in this case-is provided byengagement of the leafwith-the frame 'member 22. Theleaf. is beveledat its lower edge -topro-' vide a knife 'edge-making-conta-ct with-the body of member 22atopposite'sides-of:the aperture 25; as indicated at 48.

The lower end of the spring 26 is mounted with respect to the actuatingplate 2 B in the following manner: a r 5 Y The lower partof the helicalcoil of the spring '2fiiislextended into around sleeve 49, and. belowthe lowermost turn of the coil the spring -is formed to provide. anintegral generally-"round hooksportion-M, which is removably connectedto. the sleeve 49 by'means oft-a crosspin 5|. 1 The hook; 50 engages.the crosspin; 5 lfat the lower surface'of the-latter in a regionintermediatethe ends of-the 'crosspin. The ends of the crosspin. arereceivedindiametrically opposite portions of arabbet 52iprovided'insleeve 49, this portion of the sleeve being below the actuating plate428, and that portion of the sleeve engagingthe lowermost turn of thecoil beingabove the actuating plate: In the form shown; the sleeve- 49'hasa body portion .:or .-an internal diameter approxiin the member 22.Thesmanipulating extension 3 l;.pre.viouslyr mentioned, is formed onmember intermediatenof ;th'e:two upper knife-edge pore tions which; areprovided :onzsaid member;

lu -Fig. 23311195 switch isiiillustrated as being \in the off position,the swinging contact leafxbee ing tipped somewhat irtouthe left: of avertical transverse plane passing-through itsjlower edge. To close, the;switchntheiextension ,3 I, is grasped and swung tothe.left;;as;indicated by the dotted lines:: Thiscausestheactuatingmember 28 to beimoveda to; theright, carrying;with it the lower part ofthe spring and causingzthaupperqend of the spring to, pull, the: upper.part: of; the-Ileaf ,to the right -so:;t-hat.,.;it.- comes. against andis :held against-rthez; fixed; contacts: 33 and, 36, g This, position;willjthen beheld until there 15 a; reverse movement of:th'eextensicurr.-3 a In the Off:'IJQSiti0n;;-of,:;Fig; 3 the lower; extremityzofg ;thespring and the contact line 41, previously-mentioned, are, located; tothe left of the pivot point of the leaf, thereby holding theleaf,,firmly in the off? position; In movingithe spring from thefull-line position of Fig; 3 ,to the dottedgline position, the lowerextremity; of the spring and its upper contact line bearingagainsttheucontact line 41 of the leaf are-.brought-jto the right of the pivotpoint of the leaf,- and;wh en this occurs the, leafsnapsquickly:vtonthe; .fOn positionqr 1 It. is noted that in ;moving the lower partpofthe spring and sleeve 49, moving With the actuat-v ing membergcngagesthe body of, the spring; in other ;;words,-; a portion; of its jcoil;thev region; of such engagement being, therefore, intermediate of the;ends of thefspringand this engagement, therefore; {causing a: positivemovement 20f ,athe springgdnqathis region; This has a -,very beneficialeffect in: bringing. about axrapid'and effective snapping action of theleatbetweenits twov positions. It is also;to.-be noted that the line ofen: gagement-betweenfthe springandrthe swinging leaf is quiteclose:to;:the;. pivot1point of theleaf, there being ;a sharp line ofengagement, asabove -descr.-ibe'd: *The distancerf'rom' the lower edgeof the leaf to .its :mctallic; upper edge is preferably short incomparison to the length of .theJspring, *asillustrateddn the'drawings.

Inithe modifieda form shown in Figs.-9 -to"l3, inclusive, the manualmanipulation'is somewhat --different from that described aboveyinasmuchasthelower swinging member is actuated directly, being grasped by thefingers and i moved inon or: the other direction. -In' this particular:form' the actuating platefconnected F to the spring -is' c'ombined withan: elongated member of insuagape-pee:

Iating material adapted to-be-grasped by the fingers.

In this second form the upperinsulatiorrblock hasthe cut-away portion5'6? in which the swinging leaf-51 operates tobridge two= fixed contacts5% and 59, respectively, located within the: cut-away portion. Thesecontacts" 58-and 59'-are connected tocond-uctor' strips fill and' B t,which this instance are set edgewise the block, as: shown in'Fig. 1 3-.Attheir outer ends these conductor s-tri'ps extend out-ofthe block atthe sides of an=- extension 6 2 the block, and in these regions the.conductorstrips are equipped: withthread'ed sockets for terminal screws:screwing into the extension- 612 The contacts 58: and 59 are piecesofmetal suitably attached to the respective conductor" strips andlocated at-oppo site sides. ot' aseparatmg' fin 63 of.insulating.material provided-in con-nectionwiththeiinsnlating block;

The swinging leat'il is generally similar. tdthat previously described,but. difierentt in. some. features. It comprises ametal membergfilengaging. spring 65a. in the manner previously described, and pivoted inthe manner. previously described; Riveted to thisametaimember is-a.small platefiE. of insulating. material; Mounted upon the part 65. is:a. metallic. bridge member 6.8; inthe form ofatplate having. a. rockingmounting; intermediate: of. its: ends, so. that-it can tilt in. a.horizontal plane: with reference: toiEig. 9 and canaadapt/itself to the:lie-: of the contact members which. it bridges. In the: particular caseshown the memberfifihas intermediateof itsends asmall integralproiectionbearing against the. opposed face Stand. GB-have portions-disposed.above the. upper edge. of member 64. It. will. also be noted. thattheupper edge portion of the swinging leaf is provided. with a notch 68'whereby the adjacent end of the rivet member 61 is exposed, and thisendlof the rivet member may, when the switch is opened, come against theinner end of'a stop screw 69 threaded. in the insulatingi'block andadapted to beheld in the" adj usted" position. by a clamping nut it:The. particular function of screw 69" will be mentioned hereinafter.

In this form the knife-edge spacing: plates are shown at Tl, thesamebeing engaged, as-before,

with the U-shaped' metal frame member; which is here indicated at T2; Attheir lower edges these plates engage the plate 13, which correspends tothe plate 28', previously described. In this case; however, the plate 13" has integral therewith the member inwhich the-lower end of the springfifi is engaged andsecured, said memberbeing indicated at M. Member Wprovides a round, upwardly directed wall portion integral With-plate7-3,which is rabbeted interiorly t'o-receive the lowermost turn or thespring; The plate 13 is fastened by screws 1 5 to anelongated block-likemember 16 of ins1z1-la-tir-ig material. 'I-hi'smem-ber and the plate- 13 have meeting faces, portions of which provide an annular recess inwhich is located the pin 1! which engages the lower hook portion 18 ofthe spring. There is also provided, as shown in- Fig. 9, around recesshr block It in which the lower hook portion of: the'spring is. disposed.In assembling; the.- partsthe lower: end of the spring and: the pin 11'areplaced' position with respect to the plate 13; and the insulatingblock isthen placed: in position. to-enclose the pin, and the-screwsareinserted for attaching the insulation block to the metal-plate.

In this form the longitudinal movement of the composite actuating member13, is controlled; by an adjustable stopmember carried by the frame 72adapted to engage one of the spacer. members-H, this case the right-handmember (Fig. 9). I-Iere-astop screw I'S iscarried: by the leg or. themetal frame, andis locked in longii tudinall y adjusted position by nutsand- 81,

and thescrewhas an inner extremity adapted to be engaged-by theadjacentspacer plate. By adjusting this screw, the length of; themovement or strokeof the actuating. member may-be adjusted. In this casethe screw limits movement of the actuating-1 member toward the rig-ht(Fig. 9')", whereas the adjustable screw 69; previously mentioned,limits swinging movement of the contact member toward theleit.

In the switch shownin- Figs. 9 and 10, the switchis adjustable to beself-closing. In opening thesw-i-tch the samewill not bemoved totheposition shown'i-rr Fig. 10, as the screw 69-will not permit su-fficientmovement of the swinging contact leaf tobringthe leaf to a positionwhereit will remain disengaged. However, by adjusting the screw 69 it ispossible to have the'leaf moved tethetu-lly opened position, whereitwill remain open as-in Fig. 10.

In this form, clearance is provided between the frame-I2- and the plate13 by notching the lower extremities of the depending portions of. theframe. In the form first described the depending portions or legs of theframe act as stops for the actuating plate.

The third form of the device, shown in. Figs. 13A and 14', is one inwhich the switch can be biased: to one position and movable to the otherposition by the action of a thermostatic element such as a thermostaticbellows. More specifically; the. switch is normally closed, but isadapted tobe. opened by the thermostat when a predetermined hightemperature is reached. In general, thisform is similar to those.previously described, the same comprising an insulation block 82, ametal frame 83, a swinging leaf 8.4, a coil spring 85.; and an actuatingplate 86 provided with con.- nections. to the spring. which are similarto those inthe form. first described. The swinging leaf cooperates. withcontact members 8'1, 88, which in. this. instance are. carriedlbyconductiv arms secured. to and extending laterally outwardly from block82 in the manner shown in Figs.r13A and. 14.. Associated with theattached ends of the conductive arms are terminal screws, as shown, towhich the electric wires are adapted to be. fastened. The switch isadapted to-be fastoned" in a suitable location by means of an attachingplate 89. This attaching, plate is secured to. the insulation block 82by integral arms. 90, which extend atright. anglesto the body of theplate. The. thermostatic element is illustrated as a. bellows 9|fastened. to a fixed part by a member 92: atone end of' the bellows, theother bellows end, which is the movable end, being connected to a member93 in the nature of a slide, which is attached to one end of a lever 9The switch is arranged so that the actuating plate Eli is adapted tohavea vertical movement, and the lever 84 hasan end 95* extending under alip 96 on frame 83. The lever 94 bears intermediate of its ends againstthe upper edge of the plate 86, and when the bellows is expanded to acertain degree by the heat of the surroundin atmosphere, the bellowscauses downward movement of plate 86, which is effective to throw theswitch to the off position and hold it off until a certain amount ofcooling has taken place.

In this case the swinging leaf has a metallic part, as in the two formspreviously described, and this part is riveted to a part 91 ofinsulating material extended out of the insulation block so as to be inproximity to the cooperating contact members. The part 91, in turn,carries a metallic bridge member 98 which is similar to that of thesecond form, having a similar tiltable mounting. The swinging contactcan be held by a screw 99 against opening movement past the dead center.

It will be seen that in the particular forms herein described the switchcomprises a composite device having interconnected elements, one ofwhich is an insulating block having a cutaway portion for a swingingleaf, the other element being a frame element to which the leaf ispivoted by a knife-edge arrangement, the block being equipped withterminals having contacts adapted for bridging, the leaf having a memberfor bridging the contacts. The metallic frame member serves as amounting for an actuating member swingingly mounted with reference tothe frame member by spacing knife-edge element interposed between theframe member and the actuating member, there being a helical spring forimparting a snap action to the switch, which spring is located betweenthe aforesaid spacing elements and is hooked into the swinging leaf atone end of the spring and into the actuating member at the opposite endof the spring. The spring, as so connected into the switch structure,holds the principal parts in the assembled relation, thus eliminatingvarious parts in the nature of screws, bolts and the like, which havebeen used heretofore. Moreover, th principal parts of the switch can beof reduced size and greater compactness, and, more important, the snapaction which is imparted to the switch in its operation is extremelyrapid, and more effective than previous structures in eliminating arcingand pitting.

While the actuating member is a swinging member, it at all timesmaintains it general parallelism to the frame, owing to the provision ofthe spacing members or leaves at opposite sides of the spring. As thespacing leaves, as well as the contact leaf, swing on knife edges,movement of the switch ca be effected with a minimum of friction.

The knife-edge pivoting arrangement herein described eliminates the needof long travel hitherto required in connection with a toggle member, andpermits making or breaking of a contact on a movement as small as %4thof an inch. Moreover, the switch may be set to keep the circuit normallyopen or normally closed, which is a feature not obtainable with toggles.This is accomplished with knife-edge pivots serving as bearings, which,for all practical purposes, are frictionless, eliminating the necessityof lubrication, eliminating high-pressure resistance at dead center, andinsuring long life.

While some modifications are shown herein, various other modificationsmay be made, and other changes adopted within the broad prin- 8 ciplesof the invention and the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A manually operable electric switch comprising an insulation blockand a metal frame applied to the block at one face of the latter, theintermediate portion of the block being cut away to provide operatingspace for a contact leaf, and the block being provided with terminalsand with contact members at one side of the cut-away portion, the framebeing cut away substantially in line with the cut-away portion of theblock, a metal leaf in said cut-away portion of the block carrying acontact strip insulated from the leaf for bridging said contact membersand having knife-edge pivoting engagement with said frame, a coil springconnected to said leaf adjacent its pivot, an elongated actuating memberto which said spring is connected at the opposite end thereofintermediate of the ends of the actuating member, and meansv spacing andpivotally mounting said actuating member from said frame so thatv it hasa swinging movement.

2. A manually operable electric switch comprising an insulation blockand a metal frame applied to the block at one face of the latter, theintermediate portion of the block being cut away to provide operatingspace for a contact leaf, and the block being provided with terminalsand with contact members at one side of the cutaway portion, the framebeing cut away substantially in line with the cut-away portion of theblock, a metal leaf in said cut-away portion of the block carrying acontact strip insulated from the leaf for bridging said contact membersand having knife-edge pivoting engagement with said frame, a coil springconnected to said leaf adjacent its pivot, an elongated actuating memberto which said spring is connected at the opposite end thereofintermediate of the ends of the actuating member, and knife-edge leafelements interposed between the actuating member and the frame, saidactuating member having a swinging movement.

3. A manually operable electric switch comprising an insulation blockand a metal frame applied to the block at one face of the latter, theintermediate portion of the block being cut away to provide operatingspace for a contact leaf, and. the block being provided with terminalsand with contact members at one side of the cutawayv portion, the framebeing cut away substantially in line with the cut-away portion of theblock, a metal leaf in said cut-away portion of the block carrying acontact strip insulated from the leaf for bridging said contact membersand having knife-edge pivoting engagement with said frame, a coil springconnected to said leaf adjacent its pivot, an elongated actuating memberto which said spring is connected at the opposite end thereofintermediate of the ends of the actuating member, and means pivotingsaid actuating member from said frame so that it has a swingingmovement, said spring by being connected to the contact leaf andactuating member maintaining the actuating member in the assembledposition, the contact leaf having a snap action imparted to it throughthe swinging movement of the actuating member, and the actuating memberhaving means of connection between it and the bodyof the coil serving toshift the coil laterally.

4. In an electric switch, the combination of a frame member having aplate portion cut away intermediate; of. its.. ends. to provide, anopening, a contact-leafyhaving. kniferedge? engagement with said. plate,portion adjacent said opening, saidleaf: having. an aperture adjacentits-pivot, a eoilspring. having. at one end hooking; engagement with theapertured portion of 3 said; leaf. at one side of said plate portionand: extending: to the other side of' said-plate portion. parallelknife-edge elements at the. last-named. side of the: plate portion;engagingthewpla-te portion, an actuatingmember spacedfrom? said: plateportion by, said elements and movable parallel to said plate portion,and means of connection between said: actuating member and the: otherend; of said-spring.

5'. Ingani electric switch, the=-combination of: a framemember having.a: plate; portion cut. away intermediate ofpitsends to provide anopening, a contact leaf having kniferedge engagement with said:plateportion. adjacent said. opening; said leaf having an apertureadj'acenttits pivot,.,ar coil spring having at one. end hookingengagement with the apertured-.portionof;said leaf atone-side of? saidplate-portion and extending to theother side: ofsaid plate portion,knife-edger. elements at the last-named? side of the plate portionengaging the plate portion at respective points": in the length of saidportion, anactuating member spaced from said plate portion bysaidelements, and 'means of connectionbet'ween said actuating member'and theother end of saidspringinclud ing a sleeve-'member in whichsaid springisen:- gaged.

6; In an electric switch, the combination of a frame memberhaving aplateportion cut away intermediateof its ends to provideanopening, acontact leaf having knife-edge engagement with said plateportionadjacent said opening, said-leaf having an aperture adjacent its pivot,a coilspring having-at one-end hooking engagement with the aperturedportion of said leaf at oneside of said plate portion andextending tothe other side of said plate portion, knife-edge elements at thelast-named side ofthe plate portion engaging the plate'portion, anactuating member. spaced from said plate portion by said elements; andmeans of connection betweensaid actuating. member and the other end" ofsaid spring including a sleeve member in which said spring is engaged,said. actuatingmember being maintained in its assembled relationship tothe switch structure by its connection to said spring, and saidconnection being adetachableconnection.

7.;In an electric switch, the combination of a framemember having aplate portioncut away intermediate of its ends to provide anopening,a..contac't leaf having knife-edge pivot..-engagement with. said plateportion adjacent saidlopening, said leaf having anaperture adjacent itspivot, a coil spring having at one end" hooking engagement with theapertured portion of said leaf at one side of said plate portion andextending to the other side of said plate portion, an actuating memberat the last-named side of said plate portion to which the other end ofsaid spring is hooked, and pivoting knife-edge spacing elements betweensaid actuating member and said plate portion at opposite sides of thespring held in position by the connection of the spring to said leaf andsaid actuating member, said spacing elements mounting said actuatingmember so that it has a swinging movement but in its movement remainsgenerally parallel to said 1 plate portion.

8. In amelectrieswitch, thecombinationof a frame member havingaiplateportion. cut away intermediate of its ends toprovide an opening,acontact. leaf; having knife-edge. pivot. engagement-withsaid plateportion. adjacent said, opening, said leaf having an aperturev adjacentits pivot, atcoil spring having, at, one. end. hooking engagementwith-the apertured portion of said leaf at onesiderof saidrplateportionandextendr ing to the: other side of said plate portion, anactuati-ngmemberat the last-namedside of said plate portion .to whichthe other-endofsaid spring is hooked, andzpivoting knife-edge spacingelementsbetweensaid, actuating member and said plate; portion 1 at:vopposite sides ofthe spring held in position by the" connection ofthespring to said leaf: andsaid-actuating member, said spacing elementsmounting said actuating member sothatvit; has a: swinging movement butin its movementremains-generally parallel to said plate portion-,.. the:apertured portion of said contact leaf: having. a margin, which is'V-shaped in cross section and: has; its: apex in: contact with thehooked portioniofthe; spring.

9 ;.A n electric. switch for quick-break. and quick-make of-cu-rrent,comprising two members one of which. engages; the: other: by; interposedV-shaped' pivot spacers; for parallel longitudinal movement of onemember; whilegthea other. memher is stationary,. a. fly-leaf? contactor'having; a V-shaped" pivot: engaged with: the; stationary member, and: aspring: connected: to. the fly-leaf contactor: and". to. the movable.member providing: axsnap': action. of"; the contactor: by longitudinalmotionofi the movablemember, said'spring holding all of saidparts intheassembledpositiOn;

10. An. electric switch for quick-break and quick-make of current,comprising two members one of" which? engages. the other by interposed v-shaped pivoti'. spacers for parallel. longitudinal movement-of onemember. while; the other member-i's: stationary; a fly-leaf; contactorhavinga \r-shaped pivotengaged with the stationary member, and a springconnected. at one end to the fly-leaf'contactor' and at the other end;to said movablemember providing. a. snap action of the contactorbylongitudinal motion. of said movable member, said spring having a bodyin the form of a coil which is engaged with. said movable member;

11'. An electric-switch comprising anelongated insulation block providedwith interconnected terminals and contact members; the block having-aportionthereof-cut away adjacent the-contact members to provideoperating space for: a cofitactleaf for bridging said contact members, aframe=applied to one faceof the block and having-acut-away portionsubstantially in line with the cut-awayportion of the'block, a bridgingcontact. leaf in saidcut-away? portion of the block having knife-edgepivoting engagement with said frame on the face of the frame applied tothe block, a coil spring connected at one end to the contact leafadjacent its pivot point and extending through the cut-away portion ofthe frame, an elongated actuating member connected to the other end ofthe spring intermediate of the ends of the actuating member and having aportion engaging the body of the spring, pivoting knife-edge spacingelements interposed between said actuating member and said frame forpivotally mounting the actuating member so that if will swing in, an aregenerally lengthwise of said block, and-manual manipulating means forthe switch comprising an extension on 'one of said spacing elementsextending through inline apertures in said frame and in said block.

12. A manually operable electric switch comprising an elongatedinsulation block provided with interconnected terminals and contactmembers, the block having a portion thereof cut away adjacent thecontact members to provide operating space for a contact leaf forbridging said contact members, a frame applied to one face of the blockand having outstanding legs, said frame having a cut-away portionsubstantially in line with the cut-away portion of said block, abridging contact. leaf in the cutaway portion of the block havingknife-edge pivoting engagement with the frame on the face of the frameapplied to the block, a coil spring connected at one end to the contactleaf adjacent itspivot point and extending through the cutaway portionof the frame, an elongated actuating member connected to the other endof the spring intermediate the ends of the actuating member and having aportion engaging the body of the spring, pivoting knife-edge spacingelements interposed between said actuating member and said frame forpivotally mounting said actuating member so that it will swing in an arcgenerally lengthwise of said block, adjustable stop means carried by oneof said frame legs for inhibiting the pivotal movement of the actuatingmember through the engagement of the stop means with one of saidpivoting spacing members, and adjustable stop means for the contact leafcarried by said block for inhibiting the swing of the contact leaf andpermitting the 1 contact leaf to be biased toward the contact membersthereby permitting a self throw in this direction through the action ofsaid spring.

13. A manually operable electric switch comprising an elongatedinsulation block provided with interconnected terminals and outstandingcontact members on one face thereof, the block having an opening in itat one side of the contact members, a frame applied to the opposite faceof the block and having a cut-away portion substantially in line withthe opening in the block, a bridging contact leaf extending into theopening of the block for bridging the contact members and havingknife-edge pivoting engagement with the frame on its face applied to theblock, a spring having one of its ends connected to the contact leafadjacent its pivot and having its other end extending through thecutaway portion of the frame, an elongated actuating member connected tothe other end of the spring intermediate of the ends of the actuatingmember, and pivoted spacer elements interposed between the frame and theactuating member for pivotally mounting the latter so that it will swingin an are generally lengthwise of the block.

14. An electric switch for quick-break and quick-make of currentcomprising two elongated substantially parallel members one of which ismovable while the other is stationary, said stationary member having aninterconnected contact and terminal and having a cut away portion, a flyleaf contactor cooperating with said contact and having a V-shaped pivotengaged with the stationary member and having an aperture adjacent saidpivot, said aperture in the contactor having the lower margin thereofbeveled to provide a cross section in the shape of an inverted V and theapex providing a line contact fora hooked end of a coil spring, and atensioned coil spring having one end formed in the shape of a hookengaging said line contact of the contactor, said spring extendingthrough said cut away portion of the stationary member and having itsother end fastened to the movable member, said movable member having aportion thereof engaging the bodyeof said spring to move the springlaterally when the last-mentioned member is moved longitudinally therebyimparting a snap action to said fly leaf contactor.

15. An electric switch for quick-break and quick-make of currentcomprising two elongated substantially parallel members, means forpivoting one member to the other for swinging movement of one memberwhile the other is stationary, said stationary member having aninterconnected contact and terminal and having a cut away portion, a flyleaf contactor cooperating with said contact and having a V-shaped pivotengaged with the stationarymember and having an aperture adjacent saidpivot, said aperture inthe contactor having the lower margin thereofbeveled to provide a cross section in the shape of an inverted V and theapex providing a line contact for a hooked end of a coil spring, and atensioned coil spring having one end formed in the shape of a hookengaging said line contact of the contactor, said spring extendingthrough said cut away portion of the stationary member and having itsother end fastened to the swingable member, said swingable member havinga portion thereof engaging the body of said spring to move the springlaterally when the last-mentioned member is swung longitudinally therebyimparting a snap action to said fly leaf contactor.

I TOMUN FINIZIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

